FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL) Place Albert 1er, 13, B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique), tel : +32.71.59.12.38, fax : +32.71.59.22.29, internet: www.fci.be

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF FCI INTERNATIONAL HERDING EVENTS (NHAT – HWT – IHT)

1 January 2018

General conditions for the organization of FCI international Herding events (NHAT – HWT – IHT) Page 1

Table of contents

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 3 2 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE ...... 3 3 JUDGES ...... 4 4 FIELD AND ITS EQUIPMENT ...... 4 5 SHEEP ...... 5 6 PARTICIPANTS ...... 5 7 DOGS ...... 6 8 EVALUATION ...... 6 9 PROCEDURE SYSTEM ...... 7 10 CLOSING PROVISIONS ...... 8

N.B.: Terms referring to natural persons are applicable to both genders and numbers.

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1. These general conditions apply to all FCI international Herding events together with their specific Regulations.

1.2. FCI Herding events are organized to verify the natural herding aptitude of dogs, depending on the style of the breed, as well as their ability to learn specific training, obedience, initiative and gentleness, in order to improve selective breeding to preserve these qualities. The tests and trials should reflect a shepherd’s daily work.

1.3. The national organizations are encouraged to promote events in both styles collecting (CS) and traditional (TS).

1.4. All FCI herding tests and trials have specific FCI rules.

1.5. Definitions of tests: a) NHAT – Natural Herding Aptitude Test; open for all herding dog breeds; b) HWT CS – Herding Working Test in Collecting Style; open only for Border Collies that have passed NHAT; c) HWT TS – Herding Working Test in Traditional Style; open for herding dogs (see ANNEX 1, some breeds can be added at national level - excluding Border Collies) that have passed NHAT.

1.6. Definitions of trials: a) IHT CS – International Herding Trials in CS, open only for Border Collies that have passed HWT CS; b) IHT TS – International Herding Trials in TS, open for herding dogs (see ANNEX 1, some breeds can be added at national level - excluding Border Collies) that have passed HWT TS.

1.7. Definitions of special certificates awarded only in IHT-3 (both styles): CACITR (Certificate d’Aptitude au Championnat International de Troupeau). It is valid for the title of FCI International Herding Champion (C.I.TR.).

2 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

2.1. The organizing committee of FCI herding events works under the responsibility of its national herding group, kennel club or committee which has to be affiliated to, or have an agreement with the National Canine Organizations (NCO) recognized by the FCI. The organizing committee is responsible for the trial organization and is committed to the national animal welfare rules.

2.2. The organizing committee must appoint a course director who: a) is responsible for all the tasks related to the event; b) must be available to the judge(s) for the entire duration of the event; c) should inform the judge(s) in time about all the details on the trial field and the number of entries; d) prepares the trial field in accordance to the wishes of the judge(s).

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3 JUDGES

3.1. The organizing committee shall invite FCI judge(s) who are approved and recognised by the NCO.

3.2. The organizing committee can decide to form a multiple jury made up of more judges. In that case the final score of the competitor will be the average of the scores assigned by the main judge.

3.3. The judge(s) have full authority to choose the course, the obstacles and the sequence of the obstacles, as well as to specify what execution of individual tasks he will require and how he will evaluate it with respect to the given conditions. At the briefing before starting the competition, the judge(s) should explain this to the participants; it is suggested for the judge to prepare a drawing of the course.

3.4. In TS, the judge needs to be able to move in the field following the flock close enough to be able to observe all exercises. The judge must not hinder the handler, the dogs, or sheep by his presence. In CS, the judge always stays in one place.

3.5. It is not permitted to the judge: e) to take part in the event with his dog as a handler; f) to judge dogs owned by himself, family members or close relatives, household members or residents of his household; g) to judge a dog, if the dog has been living in the same household as him within six months before the competition; h) to judge more than eight hours a day.

3.6. The judge is authorized to finish a performance due to injury or any other reason, even if the handler does not agree.

3.7. Judging sheets must be filled in with the scores, qualifications and time. They must be signed by the judge(s).

4 FIELD AND ITS EQUIPMENT

4.1. Herding events should be organized on fields sufficiently large to provide a maximum of security for the public, sheep and dogs and to offer the possibility to run the courses in different styles and levels.

4.2. The use of the site of the field is not allowed as from the evening before the event. The size of the pen and of the obstacles should be adapted to the number of sheep in the flock, unless their size is prescribed in the specific rules.

4.3. The area, the pen and the obstacles must be safe for the dog, the sheep and the handler.

4.4. The pen fencing must prevent the dog from getting in and the sheep from getting out.

4.5. Waiting or resting pens must be arranged in a way that the sheep are not stressed in any way.

4.6. The vegetation must be so low that it does not hinder the dog's view.

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5 SHEEP

5.1. The number of sheep may vary in different styles and levels, according to the rules for CS and TS.

5.2. Sheep must be changed after every test/trial.

5.3. Preferably, the sheep used shall all be from the same flock and be similar in type in such a way that each handler shall work with sheep of equal quality. The sheep shall be well dogged and in good health.

5.4. Lambs should be weaned. They can be used together with their mother if they are fit enough and in a fine condition. This is up to the judge(s) and the sheep owner to decide.

5.5. The organizing committee and the sheep owner should make sure to have sufficient sheep in order that each group of sheep should not be stressed. The sheep shall be kept calmly. The welfare of the sheep should be respected at all times.

6 PARTICIPANTS

6.1. Entries are made in the name of the owner but a dog can be handled either by the owner or by the handler who must be a member of an FCI country full member or contract partner. When handlers are nominated, the owner(s) must indicate their names and addresses on the entry form.

6.2. Any handler may work several dogs. The organizing committee may decide to set a maximum number of dogs per handler.

6.3. If the dog cannot participate for whatever reason, the owner must notify the event organizer immediately.

6.4. At the trial secretary, the handler must provide the dog's scorebook or any equivalent document; all results must be noted in it.

6.5. Any handler must follow the instructions of the judge, as well as of the course director.

6.6. Any handler must present his dog in a good manner and must keep the dog under full control at all times. Any handler or/and his dog disturbing another dog or another handler can be eliminated and disqualified on the day of the event.

6.7. While working, it is forbidden for handlers to get any help or advice from anybody outside. Any handler receiving assistance in any form can be disqualified, as well as any advisor outside, if this is a competitor.

6.8. Before the start, the handlers: a) are invited by the course director for the briefing during which the judge(s) will explain all details related to the competition; b) can inspect the course during this briefing before the trial starts without their dogs; c) can ask anything about the course, all questions or clarifications have to be asked by the handlers at that time;

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d) must be ready when called by the course director; anyone failing to answer the call will forfeit his run; so, competitors must be aware that even if the order of the program will be followed strictly, the timing cannot be guaranteed.

6.9. During the course: a) once the team (the handler and the dog) started, the work of the handler is under the evaluation and authority of the judge(s) and he is considered to know the course and to follow it precisely; b) the handler may give commands by voice, whistle or gesture with arm or crook, a combination of these is allowed; c) the handler is allowed to touch the sheep; d) the handler is not allowed to touch the dog, can only praise the dog by voice; e) the handler must carry the dog’s collar and leash with him.

7 DOGS

7.1. For the FCI international herding events the dog must be entered in a studbook recognized by the FCI.

7.2. Identification of the dogs must be done by checking their micro-chip or tattoo number.

7.3. Bitches that are 4 weeks before or 6 weeks after giving birth to a litter are excluded from participating at the test or trial. Sick or lame dogs, or dogs suspected of contagious disease are excluded also. The decision to remove the dog is made by the main judge on the basis of his own decision or on the opinion of a veterinarian.

7.4. Handlers whose bitch is in season must notify the organizing committee before the start, must compete last and keep the bitch off the trial field and area until their run.

7.5. Competing dogs are not allowed to wear or carry anything, not even a collar (except during the NHAT).

7.6. The dogs can be controlled for anti-doping.

7.7. Neutered, monorchid and cryptorchid dogs are allowed to take part on event.

7.8. Australian Kelpie's have been transferred under the FCI TS herding rules, out of the FCI CS rules, but some Australian Kelpies already have results from FCI CS trials, so if they have passed FCI CS HWT, they can start in IHT-1, if they have passed FCI NHAT, they can to start in FCI TS HWT.

8 EVALUATION

8.1. Re-run The judge(s) can stop a dog at any point of its course and order a complete or a partial re-run if he considers that the circumstances justify such an action. This is entirely up to the judge(s) to decide. In case of a partial re-run the points which the handler already achieved will count. If sheep are disabled, the judge(s) may decide to allow the handler to continue on a new group of sheep.

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8.2. Retired The handler can withdraw from the trial. He lifts his hand and says: «RET». He will receive no points.

8.3. No points awarded The course will be immediately stopped and no points are awarded: a) if the dog is not under control; b) if one or more sheep leave the trial field.

8.4. Disqualification Reasons for disqualification on the day of the event: a) if the dog grabs or bites sheep; b) if the dog is unjustified aggressive towards humans or animals; c) unaccepted behaviour of a handler or when a handler is apparently drunk or under the influence of drugs.

8.5. Disciplinary rights The course director is responsible to guarantee order and safety in the entire trial area. The main judge is authorised to terminate the event if the order or safety is compromised in any way. Flagrant violations of the rules or the animal rights laws will lead to the end of the event. All the decisions of the judge(s) are final and undisputable. Any critique concerning a judge decision can result in expulsion from the trial area and lead to further disciplinary action according to the national regulations.

9 PROCEDURE SYSTEM

9.1. NHAT and HWT are tests without ranking and a winner.

9.2. IHT are trials in which the ranking and the winner are announced; the first 3 places cannot be shared places.

9.3. The dog can repeat HWT, but not on the same day.

9.4. If a dog in IHT-1 or IHT-2 earns VG or EXC 5 times it must step up to the next class.

9.5. If a dog in IHT-1 or IHT-2 earns EXC once it may step up to the next class.

9.6. The dog cannot return and participate in the lower class.

9.7. The dog is not allowed to enter more than one test and/or trial at the same event/day.

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10 CLOSING PROVISIONS

10.1. These regulations were approved at the meeting of the FCI Herding Dogs Commission held in Interlaken (CH) on 20. – 23. April 2017.

10.2. These rules were approved by the FCI General Committee in Kiev, August 2017. They are valid as from 01/01/2018.

10.3. In case of translation discrepancies, the English text is the authoritative version.

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ANNEX 1: LIST OF HERDING DOG BREEDS THAT CAN TAKE PART IN FCI HERDING EVENTS AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CACITR OR RESERVE CACITR Some breeds can be added at national level according NCO rules (but they cannot be eligible for the CACITR or Reserve CACITR)

Standard Breed name Group 15 CHIEN DE BERGER BELGE 1 16 OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG 1 38 WELSH CORGI CARDIGAN 1 39 WELSH CORGI PEMBROKE 1 44 BERGER DE BEAUCE 1 53 KOMONDOR 1 54 KUVASZ 1 55 PULI 1 56 PUMI 1 83 SCHIPPERKE 1 87 GOS D’ATURA CATALA 1 88 SHETLAND SHEEPDOG 1 93 CAO DA SERRA DE AIRES 1 113 BERGER DE BRIE 1 138 CHIEN DE BERGER DES PYRENEES A FACE RASE 1 141 CHIEN DE BERGER DES PYRENEES A POIL LONG 1 142 SLOVAKIAN CHUVACH 1 156 COLLIE ROUGH 1 166 DEUTSCHER SCHAEFERHUND 1 171 BOUVIER DES ARDENNES 1 176 BERGER PICARD 1 191 BOUVIER DES FLANDRES/VLAAMSE KOEHOND 1 194 CANE DA PASTORE BERGAMASCO 1 223 HOLLANDSE HERDERSHOND 1 238 MUDI 1 251 POLSKI OWCZAREK NIZINNY 1 271 BEARDED COLLIE 1 277 HRVATSKI OVCAR 1 287 AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG 1 293 AUSTRALIAN KELPIE 1 296 COLLIE SMOOTH 1 297 BORDER COLLIE 1 311 SAARLOOSWOLFHOND 1 313 NEDERLANDSE SCHAPENDOES 1 332 CESKOSLOVENSKY VLCIAK 1 342 AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD 1 347 BERGER BLANC SUISSE 1 45 BERNER SENNENHUND 2 46 APPENZELLER SENNENHUND 2 47 ENTLEBUCHER SENNENHUND 2 58 GREAT SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG 2 147 ROTTWEILER 2 181 RIESENSCHNAUZER 2 340 SAINT MIGUEL CATTLE DOG 2

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Standard Breed name Group 14 VASTGOTASPETS 5 135 SVENSK LAPPHUND 5 189 SUOMENLAPINKOIRA 5 212 SAMOYED 5 237 NORSK BUHUND 5 284 LAPINPOROKOIRA 5 289 ISLENSKUR FJARHUNDUR 5 336 PERRO DE AGUA ESPAÑOL 8 209 TIBETAN TERRIER 9

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